# NTSB CHI03FA014: Bombardier CL-600-2B19, N681BR, Chicago, IL, October 25, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Field investigation · Final report - Date: October 24, 2002, 20:20 local (Oct 25, 2002, 01:20 UTC) - Place: Chicago, IL - Coordinates: 41.979442, -87.904441 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9794&lon=-87.9044&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 5 minor, 48 uninjured; on the ground: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-O'Hare - FSDO, United Airlines, Air Line Pilots Association, Atlantic Coast Airlines - NTSB case key (mKey): 55966 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03FA014 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55966/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03FA014 ## Probable cause The driver of the bus not maintaining clearance from the taxiing airplane. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - to takeoff - clearance - not maintained, driver of vehicle (cause) - object - vehicle (cause) ## Analysis The airplane was damaged while taxiing when it was struck by a bus attempting to cross the taxiway. The ground operation rules for the airport and a Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular both state that aircraft have the right of way except when otherwise instructed by the airport traffic control tower. ## Factual narrative On October 24, 2002, at 2020 central daylight time, a Bombardier CL-600-2B19, N681BR, sustained substantial damage during a collision with a bus while taxiing for takeoff at the O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Chicago, Illinois. The 14 CFR Part 121 passenger flight was operated by Atlantic Coast Airlines as United Express Flight 7719, and was bound for the Portland International Jetport Airport, Portland, Maine. The pilot, first-officer, cabin attendant, and one passenger on-board the airplane received minor injuries. The remaining 48 passengers were not injured. The driver of the bus received minor injuries. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane was taxiing to the northwest on taxiway B, between the taxiway A8 and A7 intersections, when a United Airlines employee shuttle bus struck it. The bus was traveling west-southwest on a service road when the collision occurred. The bus impacted the right side of the fuselage about 2 feet in front of the galley service door. The rear of the bus impacted the outboard leading edge of the right wing during the collision. An inquiry of ORD driver records showed that the driver of the bus held priveledges to operate ground vehicles on the airport. Those priveledges had been in effect since her hire date of March 15, 1999. The ORD Ground Vehicle Operating Regulations Manual states, in part: 9. C. Non-Movement Areas When it is not operationally practical to maintain two-way radio communications between the vehicle and the ATCT (Air traffic control tower) or to provide an escort vehicle, vehicles not equipped with two-way radios shall follow the procedures below: 1. Vehicle operators shall yield the right-of-way to all Aircraft at all times: ... 3. Vehicle Operators shall come to a complete stop where posted, prior to crossing any and all taxiways on the service roads. However, vehicles must avoid stopping in the islands between the A- (Alpha), B- (Bravo) and D- (Delta) taxiways. The crossing of these taxiways should not be initiated until the Operator ensures that both taxiways can be crossed in one continuous movement. Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular AC 150/521-20 paragraph 7 states in part: Some aspects of vehicle control and identification are discussed below; however, every airport presents different vehicle requirements and problems. Every airport will require individualized solutions to prevent vehicle or pedestrian traffic from endangering aircraft operations. It should be stressed that aircraft ALWAYS have the right-of-way over vehicles when maneuvering on non-movement areas. Aircraft also have the right-of-way on the movement areas, except when the Airport Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) has specifically instructed an aircraft to hold or give way to vehicle(s) on a runway or taxiway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N681BR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N681BR-2022-11-02), registration cancelled 2022-11-02, S/N 7680, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bombardier CL-600-2B19 - Registry model: [Bombardier CL-600-2B19](https://openairdocs.org/model/bombardier-cl-600-2b19) (registry code 1390008) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [GE CF34 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-cf34-series) (registry code 30015, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7680 - Airframe hours: 260 - Engines: General Electric CF-34-3B1 9220 lbs thrust turbo fan; General Electric CF-34-3B1 9220 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 121 - Registered owner: Atlantic Coast Airlines - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, October 21, 2002, 23 hours before - Departed: ORD, Chicago, IL - Destination: PWM, PORTLAND, ME - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: ORD, Chicago O'Hare Intl ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: minor; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review March 29, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 6,045 total, 1,316 in this make and model, 4,246 as pilot in command, 188 in the last 90 days, 73 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 41; injuries: minor; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review September 5, 2002; seat: right; flight hours: 7,700 total, 74 in this make and model, 1,880 as pilot in command, 87 in the last 90 days, 55 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 110° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,100 ft overcast - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg - Observed at: ORD ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20021024038359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021024038359A), Oct 24, 2002: Cndair CL6002B19, Chicago, IL, Substantial damage. (-23) Received preliminary report from the great lakes regional office on an accident at Chicago o'Hare international airport at approximately 20:15 pm.… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.